India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's Test credentials have been questioned by the former England batter Alastair Cook after his heroics in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Bumrah played a crucial role as India clinched its second successive T20 World Cup title. He finished the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 wickets from eight innings at an average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21.
Michael Vaughan lauded Jasprit Bumrah
After India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, former England captain Michael Vaughan lavished praise on Bumrah, labelling him as the best bowler he has ever seen in world cricket. However, Cook argued that the Indian speedster does not have many spells where he has run through the opposition in Test cricket.
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“I reckon if you put Jasprit Bumrah in England's team, they win it. He's the best bowler I've ever seen. I started watching cricket properly probably around ’85 or ’86, when I really began to study the game, and he's the best I've seen,” said Vaughan on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
Cook questioned Bumrah's impact in Tests
“Is he the best in terms of match-winning spells in Test cricket? Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the best all-format bowler around, I think. I mean, you can safely say that. But has he, like, in a Test match bowled a spell like an 8/15, or is he not that kind of bowler?” Cook asked.
Vaughan countered Cook’s statement by mentioning Bumrah’s remarkable exploits in Australia.
Vaughan responded again: “I’ve seen him a bit in Australia. Some of the spells have been different, that too on flat decks.”
Bumrah's Test record
India speedster Jasprit Bumrah is spectacular in Tests. He holds the record of best average among bowlers who have taken at least 200 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Bumrah has picked up 234 wickets in 52 matches with an impressive average of 19.79 and an economy rate of 2.77. He has also recorded 16 five-wicket hauls
Remarkably, he has conceded more than 100 runs in a match only once. The only country where his bowling average rises above 30 is New Zealand. Since October 2024, he has held the number-one spot among Test bowlers and was last seen in action against South Africa in the red-ball format.